Clothesline appliance



A ril 20 1926 1,581,289

F. F. PRlHQDA v CLOTHESLINE APPLIANCE! Filed July 27, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l FIGJ.

WITNESSES v INVENTOR. 3 II I i 1 I 2 9. W m a/ LI M,

April 20,1926. 1,581,289

J. F. PRIHODA ,CLOTHESLINE APPLIANCE Filed July 27 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED F. PRIHODA, OF LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

CLOTHESLINE APPLIANCE.

Application filed July 27, 1925. Serial No. 46,353,

Clothesline Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to clothes line appliance or the like, and the princ1pal ob ect of the invention is to provide appliance, of novel formation, which is light of weight and compact and with the structural elements so arranged, that the use of one llne or more may be easily controlled.

Another object of the invention resldes 1n providing a substantial casing designed to accommodate three reels of clothes line irom which one or all lines may be unreeled to any point desired, the said casing also carries means whereby the line may be fastened and securely held when ready for use.

A further object is to provide means whereby the old and worn line may be conveniently replaced and arranged with n the above described appliance without taking the same apart.

A still further object is to provide apphanceof the above mentioned type which is simple and inexpensive in construction and which comprises but few parts and wh ch combines simplicity with efficiency and practicability.

Other objects and advantages of the in-- vention will appearas the following ClGSCIlP- tion is read in connection with panying drawings.

In the drawings r Figure 1 is a detail front elevation of my invention.

Figure Qis a detail perspective view of the front cover.

the accom- Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of the center reel showing the relation with the main axle. Y

Figure 4 is, a side view of the main reel showing the key member.

Figure 5 is a side view of the associating ,7 of these reels are provided with aperportion of the center and third reel.

Figure 6 is the rear elevation of my invention. i

Figure 7 is a side view of the casing showing the connection of the cord with. the reel, and the path thereof.

Figure 8 is the same side view sho ing the contact of the regulating element with the axle, and the cord fastening member.

F igure 9 is the front elevation showing the action of various parts.

Referring in detail to the drawings, indicates a'casing constructed from any suitable material and which is joined as shown at 77 through the medium of rivets 76. The said casing is supported from both sides with side plates 71 the latter having four eXten--- SlOIlS 74 designed to enter the slots formed in the casing and to limit the inward move ment of the said side plates. The casing 7 O is also'provided with four extensions on each side, designed to be bent over the side plates as indicated at 73 and to secure the latter firmly to the casing after the parts hereinafter described are properly arranged within the casing.

Each of the side plates 71 is provided with a center bearing for the reception of axle 50. Loosely carried by the said axle are three reels 7 and the reels are maintained at the required distance apart through the medium of washers 60. The reel consists of i a drum 6 formed from a straight piece of metal with the ends bent, forming double seams in order to make a tight joint when the drum assumes the circular shape. The drum is supplied with four extensions 8 which are adapted to enter the openings formed in the sides 7 and 7 by which means the drum is firmly joined together with the the said extensions being bent plates 7 and 7 over the plates as indicated in the drawings.

The first or main reel is slidably connected to the axle 50 by means of a washer 11 which is mounted to the outside portion of the reel as shown in Fig. 4 at 12. This washer is provided'with a ke-ylike extension which is adapted to enter the groove 57 formed on one tures 14 formed Fig. 5;

in a circle as shown in and surrounding the axle 50 is a tension spring 59 retained at one end by the outer portion of the said, reel and at the opposite Located within the drum of the main reel end by the collar 58 held against the stop pin 54. which is mounted to the axle and for which a slot is provided in the portion of the reel adjacent the pin. The tension of this spring acts upon the axle in such a manner that the same is moved longitudinally within the bearings of the reels and the casing and as the connecting arm 55 of the said axle enters the apertures in the center reel and later the same apertures olthe third reel, the connection of these reels with the first reel is effected, whereupon the outgoing movement of the axle is stopped by means of the abutment face 55 of the connecting arm The axle is rotated and in this instance all the reels are rotated by means of a crank 27 the upper end of which has a rectangular opening mounted on the rectangular extension 53 formed at the extreme end of the axle. The crank is firmly secured in its place with a pin 52 and is also supplied with a handle 28 which is mounted to the crank as shown at 29.

The longitudinal movement of the axle may be controlled in such a way so as to either engage or disengage the reels with the connecting arm of the axle and for this purpose a snail regulator 62 is mounted to the side plate as shown at 61. At this end part of the axle is reduced in the diameter as shown at 51 to provide two steps of the axle with the cooperating snail regulator. When the snail regulator is in the position indicated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 7 all the reels are connected to the axle through the me dium of the connecting arm 55. hen the: axle is retarded and the said regulator is moved so that the extended portion No. 2 ot the regulator contacts the shoulder of the axle as indicated in Fig. 8 the third reel is disengaged from the connecting arms of the axle. The extended bearing 72 is mounted to the side plate so as to prevent the axle from being dislocated when the same is moved inwardly tor the purpose of disengaging the center reel. At the other end of the casing is a washer 13 loosely carried by the axle for the purpose of equalizing the distance of the side reels within th casing. The inward movement of the axle is limited when the key member 11 contacts the end of the groove 57 of the axle 50.

Normally the axle assumes the position as shown in Fig. 9 and in this position the connecting arm 55 of the said axle is in no way connected with the center or the third reel, as this connection is required only for wind ing the cord up and only when these reels are used. It will be seen from this construction that the cord may be unreeled from the main reel only, and after to be wound up again. Then the cord from two reels is desired, the main and the center reel is unreeled and-when the winding operation takes place thesnai'l regulator is moved so that No; 2

extension of the said regulator faces the arrow mark whereupon the axle moves outwardly through the medium of the tension spring 59 and comes to a stop when the shoulder of the said axle contacts the said extension of the said regulator by which means the connection of the two reels is effected. To wind up the third reel, when the same is in use the snail regulator is moved so that the extension No. 3 faces the arrow mark by which arrangement the axle is moved outwardly for the connection of the third reel.

The cord is supplied to the reels through the apertures 75 formed in the rear of the casing and provided for this purpose, and is passing through the larger aperture 10 formed in the drum and through the small opening 9 and out through the front opening of the casing. The end of the cord within the drum is provided with a single knot by which means the cord is securedlv connected to the reel as shown in Fig. 7. hen replacin the cord the end supplied with the knot is taken out through the large aperture just described, the knot is untied or otherwise disposed of and the cord is removed. The rear of the casing is also provided with a loop member 21 mounted to the casing as shown at 22 by which means the appliance is hung on a hook located in any suitable place.

The front of the casing is provided with the opening 40' for the outward passage of the cord. At the foot of this opening is a curved flange 38 shaped from the part of the casing, which forms the opening. Positioned below the flange 88 are three levers 3T pivotally mounted to the casing as shown at 36. The cord is unreeled to the desired place and connected by the eye formed on the outgoing end of the cord for this purpose. At the opposite end the cord is firmly secured by means of the lever 37 which is swung out vertically to receive the cord passing over the periphery of the flange 38, whereupon the said lever is moved squeezing the cord, to a horizontal position. This will be more clearly understood upon ret erence to Figs. 7, 8, 9.

The front opening is provided with a removable cover 40. At each opposite end of this cover are slotted extensions i l adapted to enter the cut out portions i l of the cas ing. The cover is moved downwardly, the slots of the extensions limiting this movement, and is snapped in and held in its place through the medium or" the curved portions .13. The cover is provided with a spring A 6 mounted to the cover at 45, which contacts the periphery of the center and third reel for the purpose of retarding the said reels when being unreeled and also to protect the reels from moving when not in use.

The cover is also provided with a strip of, leather 42 mounted to the cover as shown 13 iii at 41 for the protection of the cord and by which means the cord is wound up upon the reels evenly.

While the present disclosure is that of what I believe to be the preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood, that the invention is not limited thereto, and that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

I claim 1- 1. Clothes line appliance comprising a cylindrical casing, side plates mounted thereto, said side plates having center bearing, an axle projecting through the said bearings, three reels for cord loosely mounted on said axle, means whereby the first reel may be rotated and the axle slid-ably connected thereto, said axle being capable of moving longitudinally within the casing, the said axle having connecting arm rigidly secured in the center thereof and operating within the drum of the center reel, whereby the center and third reel may be connected with the first reel, and a crank mounted to the axle to rotate the axle and the reels resp'ec tively when the cord is being wound up.

2. Clothes line appliance comprising a cylindrical casing, side plates mounted thereto, said side plates having center bearing, an axle projecting through the said bearings, three reels for cord loosely mounted on said axle, means to maintain the said reels apart, means whereby the first reel may be rotated and the axle slidably connected thereto, a tension spring located within the drum of the first reel and surrounding the axle, one end of the said spring being retained against the side portion ofthe said reel, the opposite end being held by a stop pin mounted on the axle, said axle being capable of moving longitudinally within the casing upon the action of said tension spring, said axle having connecting arm rigidly secured in the center thereof-and operating within the drum of the center reel, the opposite portions of the center and the third reel having apertures formed in a circle in close proximity to the bearings of the said reels whereby the said reels may be associated with the connecting arm of the axle, and a crank mounted to the axle to rotate the axle and the reels respectively when the cord is 1 D8111}; wound up.

3. Clothes line appliance comprising a cy-r lindrical casing, side plates mounted therean axle projecting through the said bearings, three reels for cord loosely mounted on the said axle, means whereby the first reel may be rotated and the axle slidably connected thereto, said axle being capable of moving longitudinally within the casing upon the action of the tension spring located within the first reel, said axle having connecting arm rigidly secured in the center thereof and operating within the drum of the center reel, center and third reel having apertures for the reception of the said arm, said axle having at one end a portion reduced in diam-, eter, a snail regulator pivotally mounted to the side plate and cooperating with the said reduced portion of the axle whereby the 1 outward movement of the axle may be'controlled to either engage or disengage the center and third reel, means to accommodate the axle when moved inwardly and a crank mounted to the axle to rotate the axle and the reels respectively when the cord is being wound up.

l; Clothes line appliance comprising a cylindrical casing, side plates mounted thereto, said side plates having center bearing, an axle projecting through the said bearings, three reels ior cord loosely mounted on the said axle, means whereby the cord may be connected to the reels, the said casing having a front opening extending horizontally thereof for the passage of the cord, the upper part of said opening having a detachable cover, said cover having means for retarding the center and third reel and also means for retarding the cord, the lower part of the opening having a curved flange,

three levers pivotally mounted to the said casing below the said flange and in the path of each reel whereby each outgoing cord may be firmly secured to the said casing at this end, the opposite end of the cord having an eye whereby the cord is suspended, a loop member mounted to the rear of the ea ing whereby the appliance may be conveniently hung, means for disconnecting the center and third reel whereby each reel may be unreeledseparately to any distance and means for associating the axle with the said reels and a crank mounted to the axle to rotate the axle and the reels respectively when the cord is being wound up.

Signed at Long, Island City in the county of Queens and State of New York this 23rd. day'o'f July A. .l). 1925.

FRED F. PRIHODA. 

